The Victorian and federal governments have together unveiled designs for the redevelopment of Carlton’s public housing towers at 20 Elgin Street and 141 Nicholson Street – the first pair of 44 towers to be replaced across the city.
Designed by Architectus, the new Carlton Housing Towers will replace the suburb’s 60-year-old, 17-storey red brick public housing towers developed by the Victorian Housing Commission in the 1960s.
According to a joint statement from the Victorian premier and the federal minister for housing and homelessness, “The redevelopment will deliver hundreds more homes for families and boost housing stock at the currently unoccupied site by 26 percent – delivering 248 social homes equipped with private balconies in two buildings spanning 16 and 18 storeys.”
Residents were relocated from the towers in 2022 following a sewerage system failure. According to the statement, the buildings “were built to significantly outdated design standards. They’re reaching the end of their useful lives, and no longer fit for modern living – particularly for young families and Victorians living with a disability.”
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Premier Jacinta Allan commented, “I want families to have decent homes because I want kids to have decent lives. Every Victorian deserves a home near the people they love, close to transport, jobs and services.”
The design process included consultation with renters through a dedicated community committee. In response to residents’ feedback, the designs were modified to include four-bedroom and five-bedroom apartments to accommodate larger households.
Oliver Mayger, Architectus principal and living sector leader noted, “Our priority is to listen to the lived experience of public housing renters, staff, and the community to ensure we design a site that meets the needs of the people who will live there for generations to come. From the very first sketch, we have worked together to design equitable, modern, and sustainable housing that renters and the community can feel immensely proud of.”
According to the joint government statement, the new apartments are energy efficient, and maximise natural light and ventilation. They “include improved accessibility, reverse-cycle heating and cooling, ceiling fans, a laundry in each apartment, double-glazed windows and modern kitchens.” Apartments are set to achieve 5 Star Greenstar and 7 Star NatHERS ratings.
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Clare O’Neil, federal minister for housing and homelessness said, “Every single one of these homes in Carlton will become a modern, energy-efficient and accessible place for people to call home.”
The renovated site will also accommodate community spaces, a kitchen garden, communal terrace and shared spaces that link to Station Street Park.
Set to be the state’s biggest urban renewal project, the redevelopment of Melbourne’s housing commission towers has been met with widespread discussion, investigation, contention and frustration at the government’s lack of evidence to support their decision.
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Victorian minister for housing Harriet Shing argued, “The towers no longer meet modern standards of living – particularly for families with kids, and Victorians living with a disability. And so while others try to block, we’ll continue to build more homes across Victoria that are bright, modern, secure, connected and accessible.”
The state and federal governments assert that the overarching redevelopment project will see an increase in the state’s social housing by at least 10 percent.
Early demolition works at the Carlton site have already started, with the towers slated for demolition early next year and construction anticipated for completion by 2028.
According to Homes Victoria, the next towers scheduled for redevelopment by 2031 are 20 Racecourse Road, Flemington; 12 Holland Court, Flemington; and 33 Alfred Street, North Melbourne. More
